COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD OPENS ELEVENTH SESSION

Press Release
HR/4267

COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD OPENS ELEVENTH SESSION

GENEVA, 8 January (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on the Rights of the Child began its eleventh session this morning, hearing an opening statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, José Ayala-Lasso. Following the address, the Committee adopted its agenda and programme of work for its three-week session and dealt with other organizational matters.

Mr. Ayala-Lasso told the Committee that he had sent to State parties a plan of action aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. With sufficient mobilization it should be operational soon. In order to facilitate the implementation of the Committee's recommendations, he said that he had envisaged undertaking a strategy for developing inter-agency cooperation in matters of the rights of the child. Following the Committee's recommendations, the Philippines had requested technical assistance in the field of administration of justice concerning minors.

On events that had taken place since the Committee's tenth session, he said the Conference of States parties to the Convention, which met on 12 December 1995 at New York, had decided to increase the number of Committee members to 18. In the course of its fiftieth session, the General Assembly had adopted a resolution regarding the promotion and protection of the rights of the child by which it invited States parties to the Convention to ensure the education of the child in accordance with article 29 of the Convention. The Assembly had expressed support for the work of the experts charged with studying the situation of children affected by armed conflicts, as well as the work of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and pornography. With regard to girl child, the Assembly had urged States and international organizations to develop and implement a strategy aimed at realizing gender equality.

The Committee against Torture, which held its fifteenth session at Geneva from 13 to 24 November 1995, had examined the reports of five State parties, he said. It had also considered 14 communications in closed meetings and had decided to examine four; the remaining cases had been declared inadmissible. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had also

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held its thirteenth session last year and had examined the reports of five State parties. It held a general debate on the draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The High Commissioner underlined the need to strengthen the relations and coordination efforts among various treaty bodies, citing as an example the desire expressed by the Committee of the Rights of the Child and that of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to send a joint delegation to the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) to be held in Istanbul from 3 to 14 June.

Exchange of Views

The Chairman, Akila Belembaogo, expert from Burkina Faso, urged that the Committee and the Centre for Human Rights consolidate their strategies of cooperation during 1996. The Committee on the Rights of the Child was "the only Committee that attempts to renovate and adapt itself to all situations".

Marta Santos Pais, expert from Portugal and the Committee's Rapporteur, applauded measures taken by the Government of the Philippines in requesting technical assistance. It demonstrated that the Convention had become an instrument for change.

In response to both experts, the High Commissioner pledged that the Centre would continue its assistance by extending its cooperation with the Committee under the framework of its restructuring programme. When the remaining few States ratify the Convention, it would achieve its full universal character, he said.

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